The North East's coronavirus hotspots as two-week lockdown looms

More than one in every 100 people in some parts of the North East tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

In two areas of Northumberland, the case rate as of December 14 stood at over 1,000 per 100,000 people.

Latest government figures show coronavirus infections are rising in almost all the worst-affected parts of the region, as concerns over the Omicron variant grow.

Go here for the latest coronavirus updates and breaking Covid-19 news

And nowhere in the region had fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people at the time the figures were recorded.

It comes as the UK Health Security Agency announced that 12 people had now died from the Omicron variant, while another 82,886 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded in the UK on Sunday.

UK leaders sat down for another Cobra meeting to discuss the variant on Sunday night, after Health Secretary Sajid Javid refused to rule out tougher restrictions in a BBC interview.

These are the infection rates for the worst-hit parts of the region, as of December 14:

• Stocksfield, Riding Mill & Corbridge:
  Total cases: 97 - up by 62 (177.1%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 1,060.1

• Ponteland
  Total cases: 71- up by 20 (39.2%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 1,024.8

• Newton Aycliffe North
  Total cases: 77 - up by 47 (156.7%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 891.9

• Kingston Park & Dinnington
  Total cases: 118 - down by 7 (-5.6%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 853.3

• Hebburn West
  Total cases: 53 - up by 35 (194.4%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 830.3

• Cramlington South
  Total cases: 52 - up by 35 (205.9%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 817.5

• North Cramlington
  Total cases: 42 - up by 15 (55.6%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 817.0

• Longhorsley, Hepscott & Capheaton
  Total cases: 71- up by 19 (36.5%)
  Case rate per 100,000 people: 812.3

For the latest local news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter